Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.2 million head on September 1, 2026. The inventory was 1 percent above September 1, 2025.

Placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.62 million head, 9 percent below 2025. Net placements were 1.57 million head. Placements were the lowest for August since the series began in 1996. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 240,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 355,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 387,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 230,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 85,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.52 million head, 3 percent below 2025. Marketings were the lowest for August since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 52,000 head during August, 2 percent above 2025.

Kyle Bumsted at Allendale breaks down the numbers